LIVE - Updated at 10:00
Boris Johnson has suggested that his event planner friend stayed overnight at Chequers during Covid restrictions for childcare reasons as he denied the visit broke any rules.
Dixie Maloney, who helped Mr Johnson and wife Carrie plan their wedding, stayed at the prime minister's grace and favour home on 7 May, when indoor gatherings were banned except for "reasonably necessary" for reasons such as work or childcare.
Mr Johnson's spokesperson told The Guardian was "entirely lawful" and sources close to him said Ms Maloney was allowed to be there for childcare reasons at a time when Carrie was pregnant.
Elsewhere, current PM Rishi Sunak will hold talks with US president Joe Biden later in his first visit to the White House since taking office.
The leaders' Oval Office talks are expected to cover the war in Ukraine, China, economic security, international cooperation on regulating the growing field of artificial intelligence, and more.
A polling expert has dismissed as "rubbish" a new survey suggesting Labour is on course for landslide victory at the general election.
A survey carried out by FocalData and commissioned by Best for Britain, using the MRP method in new constituency boundaries, estimated Keir Starmer's party could secure a majority of more than 140 seats.
Mr Kellner, who co-founded YouGov, said there were "fundamental flaws" in the data. More comments below:
The Green Party's only MP Caroline Lucas wil stand down at the next election to focus on fighting "nature and climate emergencies", she has announced.
Ms Lucas, who had two spells as leader of her party, said her role in Parliament meant she had "struggled to spend the time I want" on the crises facing the environment.
Patrick Daly reports:
Caroline Lucas to quit as MP to focus on climate campaigning
President Joe Biden is welcoming prime minister Rishi Sunak for wide-ranging talks on Thursday as the British leader makes his first White House since taking office.
The leaders' Oval Office talks are expected to cover the war in Ukraine, China, economic security, international cooperation on regulating the growing field of artificial intelligence, and more.
Biden and Sunak have already had four face-to-face meetings since Sunak became prime minister in October, but the talks in Washington will offer the two leaders a chance for their most sustained interaction to date.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the 15-month-old Russian invasion of Ukraine will be "top of mind." The US and UK are the two biggest donors to the Ukraine war effort and play a central role in a long-term effort announced last month to train, and eventually equip, Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets.
Aamer Madhani reports:
Biden and Sunak to focus on Ukraine and economic security in British PM's first White House visit
Rishi Sunak is apparently ready to nod through Boris Johnson's controversial honours list in a move set to spark at least two by-elections for the Tories.
The former prime minister's list has already raised eyebrows after he reportedly nominated a series of close political allies, friends and associates - including several Tory MPs and his own father.
But Mr Sunak is poised to approve the list of some 50 names in the coming weeks in a bid to "clear the decks" of another row involving predecessor, according to The Times.
Full report below:
Rishi Sunak 'to approve Boris Johnson's honours list' despite by-election warnings
Boris and Carrie Johnson hosted a close friend at Chequers while some coronavirus restrictions were still in place, it has been reported.
The former prime minister and his then-pregnant wife are said to have invited corporate events organiser Dixie Maloney to the Buckinghamshire country mansion on 7 May 2021.
At the time, indoor gatherings between different households were banned except when "reasonably necessary" for reasons such as work or childcare or to provide care or assistance to a vulnerable person, including someone pregnant.
Oliver Pritchard-Jones and Kate Devlin have the full report:
Boris Johnson 'hosted friend at Chequers to plan wedding during Covid restrictions'
Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live politics coverage.
Today we'll be covering Rishi Sunak's visit to Washington DC, Boris Johnson's alleged Covid breach and other stories from Westminster and elsewhere.
Stay tuned for the latest updates.